Biomaterial Database

Treatment of infections in the patient with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial infection. 2000

S M Holland

Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bldg 10, 11N103, 10 Center Dr., MSC 1886, Bethesda, MD 20892-1886, USA. smh@nih.gov

Cytokines are increasingly used for the therapy of infections in patient populations with special defects in immunity (chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, chronic granulomatous disease). The recognition of multiple defects in the systems of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor, interleukin-12 (IL-12) receptor and IL-12 p40 emphasizes the critical roles that cytokines play in preventing and clearing infection. The cases of patients with partially responsive IFN-gamma receptors (autosomal dominant and partial defects) are ideal candidates for successful cytokine prophylaxis and therapy. Better understanding of the critical elements of the cytokine pathways may show us ways to circumvent these defects with complementary cytokine cascades.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009164	Mycobacterium Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus MYCOBACTERIUM.	Infections, Mycobacterium,Infection, Mycobacterium,Mycobacterium Infection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016207	Cytokines	Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.	Cytokine
D017471	Receptors, Interferon	Specific molecular sites or structures on or in cells with which interferons react or to which they bind in order to modify the function of the cells. Interferons exert their pleiotropic effects through two different receptors. alpha- and beta-interferon crossreact with common receptors, while gamma-interferon initiates its biological effects through its own specific receptor system.	Interferon Receptors,Interferon Receptor,Receptor, Interferon
D018123	Receptors, Interleukin	Cell surface proteins that bind interleukins and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells.	Interleukin Receptors,Interleukin Receptor,Receptors, Interleukins,Interleukins Receptors,Receptor, Interleukin
D018664	Interleukin-12	A heterodimeric cytokine that plays a role in innate and adaptive immune responses. Interleukin-12 is a 70 kDa protein that is composed of covalently linked 40 kDa and 35 kDa subunits. It is produced by DENDRITIC CELLS; MACROPHAGES and a variety of other immune cells and plays a role in the stimulation of INTERFERON-GAMMA production by T-LYMPHOCYTES and NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Edodekin Alfa,IL-12,Natural Killer Cell Stimulatory Factor,Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Maturation Factor,IL 12,IL-12 p70,IL12,Interleukin 12,Interleukin-12 p70,Interleukin 12 p70
D020022	Genetic Predisposition to Disease	A latent susceptibility to disease at the genetic level, which may be activated under certain conditions.	Genetic Predisposition,Genetic Susceptibility,Predisposition, Genetic,Susceptibility, Genetic,Genetic Predispositions,Genetic Susceptibilities,Predispositions, Genetic,Susceptibilities, Genetic